How to Manage Withdrawal Symptoms

If you become dependent on a specific substance, and you stop using that substance, you’ll likely experience at least some withdrawal symptoms. This is true for almost any addictive substance, including caffeine, alcohol, and heroin.

These symptoms range from mild to life-threatening, depending on the substance you’re using and how long you’ve been dependent on it. Learning how to manage withdrawal symptoms is vital if you want to overcome your addiction.

Consider Medical Supervision

First, consider medical supervision and support for your withdrawal symptoms. If you’ve been addicted to a particularly strong substance, or if you’ve been taking this substance for a very long time in high amounts, your withdrawal symptoms may be so powerful they can legitimately threaten your life or health. Because of this, it’s a good idea to have a medical expert on standby to help you through these symptoms and make sure you’re not in any danger.

Medically supervised withdrawal support is also valuable because it gives you the option of taking prescription medications that can lessen your withdrawal symptoms. Substances that stimulate the function of the substances to which you were addicted can help you taper off in a controlled, positive way.

Taper Off (When Possible)

Depending on your circumstances, it may be possible or even advisable to quit cold turkey; in other words, you’ll quit all at once. But for many people, this approach is scary, intimidating, and predictive of far worse withdrawal symptoms.

If you’re serious about beating your addiction, and you have plenty of support in place, it may be better to gradually taper off your usage of the substance in question, reducing your intake over time.

For example, if you usually have 100 mg of a substance each day, consider cutting down to 50 mg each day, then 50 mg every other day, then 25 mg every other day. Continue this pattern, cutting more and more until you can safely eliminate the substance from your life entirely.

Find Someplace Comfortable

The first few days of the withdrawal are often the most severe, so it’s important to find someplace comfortable where you can stay. Many people try to go through withdrawal at home, away from work, and other distractions. Depending on the intensity of your symptoms, you may want to stay in bed all day. Make sure you surround yourself with pillows, blankets, water bottles, and other tools of comfort that can help you feel calmer and more relaxed.

Lean on Others

You don’t have to go through this alone. In fact, you shouldn’t. Withdrawal will be much easier to manage with the help of other people.

•       Join a support group. Consider joining a support group. People who have been through withdrawal before will be willing to support you and capable of giving you the perspective you need to get through.
•       Stay in good company. Consider keeping people you trust nearby while you’re going through withdrawal. They can talk to you, get you things you need, and observe you make sure you don’t need professional medical attention.
•       Talk to friends and family members. Open up to friends and family members. These people are there to support you and help you get better.

Drink Plenty of Water

Adequate hydration can minimize certain withdrawal symptoms, making you feel healthier, more energized, and more in control. Keep a glass of water or water bottle by you at all times, and keep drinking regularly.

Physically Exercise

Physical exercise relieves stress, relieves pain, and can function as a healthy distraction. Try to get at least some exercise every day during your withdrawal, even if you don’t feel like it. Even a short, light session is better than nothing at all.

Eat Balanced, Healthy Meals

Do what you can to eat balanced, healthy meals throughout your withdrawal. Getting adequate nutrition and keeping a full stomach will allow you to maintain your strength and may lessen the severity of certain symptoms.

Practice Mindfulness and Deep Breathing

To get through the worst of your withdrawal symptoms, you should try to take things one moment at a time. One of the best ways to do this is to practice mindfulness meditation. In this practice, you’ll focus only on the present moment, filtering out distractions and decluttering your mind. Mindfulness meditation is often facilitated by deep breathing, which forces you to take measured, long breaths in and out.

Practicing these exercises will relieve stress, keep your mind off your discomfort, and help you stay centered during this experience.

Realize That This Is Temporary

Finally, remember that withdrawal is a temporary step on the journey to recovery. Throughout this guide, we’ve given you several strategies and tips that can help you make withdrawal easier to manage. But no matter what, the withdrawal will end. Each day will be easier than the last, and each hour will be easier than the last. Keep this in mind as you get through the worst of it.